The Museums, Parks and Mackintosh Explorer North explores the buildings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, as well as museums and parks in the North of the city. Highlights include The Lighthouse, The Willow Tea Rooms, Hunterian Art Gallery and the Riverside Museum, as well as the impressive views across the city from the canal at Spiers Wharf and the buzzling Kelvingrove Park. The route starts and finishes at Broomielaw Pontoon.

Route Description:

Starting on the Clyde, the route passes Glasgow Central Station and soon afterwards the Daily Record building, the first of Mackintosh sites along this route. Next up is The Lighthouse, the first public commission completed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, before the route follows the city centre streets to Sauchiehall Street, where the famous Willow Tea Rooms present the next opportunity to follow on the footsteps of the famous Glaswegian architect. Past the Glasgow School of Art the route then heads on streets and cycle paths to Spiers Wharf, which provides the opportunity to extend the journey by cycling the various routes starting there. The journey along the Forth and Clyde Canal offers traffic-free cycling paths and great views over the city on a clear day. The Mackintosh Church in Maryhill is just a short detour away. Shortly after leaving the canal the trail connects with the Kelvin Walkway, which follows the river into Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s West End, passing the Botanic Gardens and Halfpenny Bridge along the route. The route leaves the Kelvin for a short tour of Hillhead to the Hunterian Art Gallery, before joining the cycle route along the river to meet the Clyde at the Riverside Museum. From here it is an easy cycle back into Glasgow along the cycle path to Broomielaw Pontoon.

Alternatives:

The route is well served by trains stations and confined to the city centre area. Spiers Wharf and Kelvingrove Park offer opportunities to extend the loop with other cycling routes.